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Former Mid-Canada Line Sites 324 & 324A

Canada / Quebec / Chibougamou /
 abandoned / shut down, former air force base, early warning radar
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Two of approximately 90 unmanned remote radar stations spanning Canada along the 50th parallel, Sites 324 & 324A were activated for service with the Mid-Canada Line in April of 1957. Reporting to, controlled by and maintained by Sector Control Station 300 at Knob Lake, the sites consisted of 28 X 60 feet prefabricated buildings divided into power, equipment and living quarters and external 350ft tall steel lattice towers which mounted the four Doppler transmitters facing East/West in transmitting/receiving pairs which functioned as a a low-altitude "trip wire" defense against Soviet aircraft.

Site power and heat was provided by three diesel electric generators, two of which were usually on automatic standby, which were fitted with heat exchangers on their exhaust lines to provide heat for the station living area and detection and communications equipment rooms. The buildings also were equipped with a small galley, sanitary facilities and berthing for the technicians who would deploy to the sites to perform maintenance tasks. The remote location of the sites meant it was only accessible by helicopter, and only when weather conditions would permit safe navigation and flight operations.

Remaining operational through the life of the Mid-Canada Line, the sites and the rest of the Eastern Sector was formally shut down in April of 1965. To date the neither site has been demolished nor environmentally remediated.

lswilson.dewlineadventures.com/scs300.htm
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   55°20'10"N   73°1'11"W
This article was last modified 8 years ago